The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-11-28
GEN. HARRISON At DANVILLE
Text of the Speech Delivered Before the
Lincoln League on Saturday Last
The Issues in 1886 Still Unset.led-An EqRal
Ballot, Reform in the Benevolent Institu-
lions and the Temperance Question.


tions and the Temperance Question.
eT at s1 sn
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentleme nj re-
gard this meeting as one of the most remar ka bic
have ever been called upon to address. l have
spoken to larger audiences; l have seen more
imposing street displays; more brass horns and
bass drums. but, taking all the incidents of your
meeting together. l have never seen a more
noticeable political gathering than this. We
have no campaign on; there no candidates
in the field; the platforms upon which
the battle OF 1888 Is to be fought
have not been written, and yet here on this
November day, six months least before we
have ordinarily joined forces in our presidential
political contests, l find gathered this large and
enthusiastic meeting. Il is TO me q most hope
full omen. The fruit that is to come from it !
do not think will come at all from what shall be
that You have gathered this meeting.
The heat of Campaign strife often clouds the
reason and drives men into a course OF political
action which their camer judgments would not
approve / think these intercampaien assem-
blies, and the calmer discussions which should
characterize them, may be made very
useful instrumenta!ity OF Republican success;
because, my fellow citizens believe that, from
the first Republican platform to the last. Wa
have gone to the people upon principles which
commend themselves to the patriotic and think
ing classes of our people. Very wisely, think,
Immediately after our last campaign. those
charged with the organization OF our party ia
Indiana conceived the design or organizing az
once, throughout all the counties OF the State,
such clubs you have organized hero in Hen
dricKs county, and hope that the result of your
meeting will be to stimulate the organization Of
such clubs until there shall not be a county in
the State that has not its Lincoln League Club.
Why should we wait until the campaign is
before our battalions enrolled and of6ceredf
How much we shall gain man is wise enough
to tell, if, when the national convention assem-
bles next summer and its platform and nomi-
nees are announced to the world we shall have
in in M
take up the work and to push it on tn victory.
So much for this meeting expression OF
q most hopeful interest and illustration of
most wise and timely organization of Repub-
icans. Now, what of the partyf Why are We
organizing in Indianal l am one of those who
believe that to fight without cause IS not o
noble thing; that fighting and conquest become
noble they done in behalf of q cause that
kndes the high impulses of the human heart
and demands the allegiance Of the enlightened
conscience. [ believe the Republican party in
Indiana and in the Nation stand to-day for such
issues. IApplause1 No man was the architect
OF the RepSoiaean parry You may sa sns r S
fined its principles but beg You to remember
that every of them q delegate;
and 1 beg you further to remember that
those principles of liberty which were an
nounced in our frat platform were written in
the hearts of the people before they were writ
ten in the platform. Applause. 1t .
party born; it was the gathering together of men
stirred by common impulse in behalf of free
dom and of pure, popular government 1t gath
er0Q
altar of sacrifice and in a, sanctuary
beset with enemies. No other politi.
cal party has such a noble army of martyrs
The glorifed form Of the first Republican Presi-
dent walks at its head, and a great Multitude OF
humble. dark skinned lovers of creed who
met cruel death only because they were Repub-
licans, follow his loved but silent footsteps.
AN EQUAL BALLOT.
The issues that interest us naturally grow ont
of our double citizenship. We citizens Of
i ndiana and proud of it; but we hold tn al
pride in subsection and that citizenship to be
subordinate, in many things. to the glory and
duty of national citizenship tApplause.1
At every election, when deposit a ballot, we
are acting upon questions that expend them
selves within the State lines of Indiana. and
upon others that are bounded only By the oceans
that have fixed our cater lines a nation
thought IN the last campaign in Indiana We had
never had. as citizens of this State. more inter-
essine ard absorbing questions to occupy our at
tention. beg you to remern Der. my fellow-citi-
zens. that those issues are unsettled to-day. Not
one of them was determined by the result ID
1886. If it was worth our while to fig hit fer them
then. they are worthy of a second fight. Yes
worthy to be fought for until that long-delayed
triumph which / believe awaits every right
cause. / have said none of the issues of the last
campaign were consnmmated. 1t was a campaign
made against odds such as party has been
seldom called upon to meet. That Infamous ap-
portionment of State for legislative and
congressional purposes, devised to suppress the
popular will IN Indiana, devised TO enable
Democratic minority to control our Legislature
and to secure majority of the delegation in
Con gress vet stands upon our statute book; yet
calls upon every true man in Indiana who believes
in an equal ballot, who believes that every
elector shall count one in every election and no
more, to overturn it and restore equal suffrage
in this State. IApplause.I Will you be con-
tent, Republicans of Hendricks county, will you
ever cease to fight a mans earnest hgh', until
every voter in this State has his full. equal in
fiuence in the selection of all officers and in
the making of all our lawsl If you do, if you
content to sit down robbed of some of your
political rights, then you are parted from the in
spiration that organized our party and the
courage that made mon fight for il and die for
it. know that that infamous gerry ma nder Of
our State received the reluctant, believe the
corrupt. support of some who voted for it be-
lieve it is true. and could be proven. that the
votes of some Democrats in favor of those bills
were not unconnected with promises of federal
shown in the last election. when the Repub-
lican party cast 10, 900 more votes for members
of the Legislature than the Democratic party
did, and vet the Democratic party controlled
yonr Legislature on joint ballot.
allude to this question first because 1t is the
bottom question. II lies under all others What
profit in discussing the question of temperance
legislation, of the reform Of our benevolens
institutions. any other of these local questions
which are to be determined by the action of our
Legislature, until first secure equal
influence, man for man. in the choosing of
Legislature: and / say to any tnird-party
men, ProhIbitionists. who listen to me. what
form of success in the State of Indiana, until We
readiust our apportionment that a majority
of our people may secure a majority in the Leg
islaturel
This legislation is part my fellow-citizens of
deliberate. remorseless scheme that has its
10 anifestatioDs North and South to secure and
to perpetuate Democratic control by tine dis
franchisement of Republicans Sometimes
when / think about this; when look over tho
situation in the United States; when turn my
eye towards the South; when look towards Da-
kota and when. calling in nv vision. look
here into the faces of my Republican friends in
Indiana. and see them partially disfranehised.
and high constitutional officer chosen by q
majority of the electors with vulgar violence,
forcibly excluded from the exercise of the Office
because he was Republican. am full of appre-
tension for know that such condition does
not permanently consist with that respect for
the enactments of our legislatures that is the
only sure guaranty of public order. Has it
come to be true, soldiers of Hendricks county,
comrades who left home and friends and stood
the fiery edge of many fight and looked
with I'M 81 anched faces and reeolute eyes into
the very face of death for country and the flag